Spiked Thyme Tea Drink

**found in April 2012 Food and Wine Magazine

Total: 5 minutes plus 2 hours

Steeping-Makes 1 drink

Mixologist Kathy Casey of Kathy Casey Food Studios-Liquid Kitchen steeps vodka in English Breakfast tea for this drink.  To sweeten it, she uses local honey ("a great way to customize your cocktails", she says)-specifically, the dark, fig-flavored honey from her studio's backyard hive underneath a fig tree.

Tea Vodka:

12 ounces GF vodka

1 English Breakfast tea bag

Cocktail:

2 thyme sprigs 

Ice

1 1/2 oz. GF tea vodka

3/4 oz. fresh lime juice

2 tsp. honey mixed with 2 tsp. water

1.  Make the tea vodka in a jar, combine the vodka with the English Breakfast tea bag.  Let stand at room temperature for 2 hours, then discard the tea bag.  (makes about 12 oz.  The infused vodka can be kept covered at room temp. for up to 1 month)

2.  Make the cocktail in a cocktail shaker, lightly muddle 1 of the thyme sprigs  Add ice and the Tea Vodka, lemon juice and honey syrup and shake well.  Strain into a chilled martini glass or coupe and garnish with the remaining thyme sprig.

3.  Simple Syrup

In a small saucepan, bring 1 cup of water and  cup of sugar to a boil over moderately high heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar; let cool.  The Simple Syrup can be refrigerated, covered, for up to 1 month.  Makes about 12 oz.

Enjoy! xoxo Julie
www.goodiegoodiegluten-free.blogspot.com